[v1.0] MECB Backplane Extension

[Editor]

I'd always envisaged making this Extension for the Backplane, adhering to the MECB board size mechanical standard.

However, I haven’t really had the need for a Backplane Extension in my experimentation to date.

But, as we now have a few MECB cards to play with, the beginning of 2025 seemed like a good time to add this option to the line-up.

This Backplane Extension enables you to take your existing Backplane, which supports 4 or 5 MECB cards, and expand it to support 8 or 9 MECB cards.

You'll find all this here: Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) – Backplane Design

[djrm]

Hopefully your new board preserves the 20mm socket spacing across the board boundary, my cut and shut version doesn't work quite right in this respect with the board rails in the case I now have.

[Editor]

Hopefully your new board preserves the 20mm socket spacing across the board boundary, my cut and shut version doesn't work quite right in this respect with the board rails in the case I now have.

Unfortunately this wasn't possible (as an extension), mainly due to the existing Backplane having a right-angle socket at it's edge, so any backplane extension design already rules out having a continuous consistent socket spacing (across board boundary).

Therefore, the only way of achieving a longer backplane (with consistent spacing for all connectors), would be to make a new longer backplane PCB. I decided I would stick with the 100mm square MECB board standard mechanical specification (and its Minimalist design intentions).

Video has been completed, and is pending publication. I'm just finalising the description / blog entry.

[queon]

I'm curious what kind of backplane material you used and how to connect the backplane ports in a single line in Kicad

[Editor]

I'm curious what kind of backplane material you used and how to connect the backplane ports in a single line in Kicad

Hi. Can you please explain further what you meant by: "backplane material"

The Backplane PCB is indeed designed with KiCAD, just like all of my different MECB cards.

When designing a PCB with KiCAD, the biggest challenge is indeed the trace routing. But, I actually find it a very calming challenge.

You just need to persevere with the component layout and trace paths, until you not only have everything connected, but you are also happy with all of the routed trace paths themselves.

I tend to always sleep on a design (after I think I'm finished), only to wake-up the next morning with another trace routing optimisation in my mind.

Even when I finally order a PCB, it is quite often not until the third version, that I am completely happy! But, then again, not everybody has my OCD tendencies.

[queon]

I wonder what specification of backplane port you used.

[Editor]

I wonder what specification of backplane port you used.

I'm still unsure exactly what you mean.

The backplane connenctors are DIN 41612 in the 364 format. i.e. 64 pins organized in the 3x32 row format (middle row unpopulated).

The Bus itself, is a Minimalist version of the ECB pinout standard (dating back to the late 1970's).

MECB Bus pin-out can be found here: Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) – Bus Pinout Documented!